Bulawayo butcher in court over 243kg of suspected stolen meat

A 33-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man employed at a local butchery appeared in court on Wednesday facing charges of stock theft after he was allegedly found with 243kg of soiled meat stored inside the butchery’s cold room.

Tapiwa Marava of Northend suburb, who works at Prime Meats Butchery in the city centre, was arrested after he failed to account for the large quantity of meat.

He appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Evia Matura yesterday and was remanded out of custody to 14 May on US$50 bail.
Prosecutor Ms Mufaro Ndirayire told the court that on 29 April at around 7AM, Marava was found in possession of 243,75kg of deboned, soiled meat, stored in a plastic dish inside the butchery’s cold room located along 13th Avenue between Basch Street and Lobengula Street.

“Upon being asked to produce receipts and relevant documentation by the complainant, the accused person failed to give a satisfactory explanation regarding the origin of the meat,” said Ms Ndirayire.

A police report was made, leading to Marava’s arrest. The meat was later condemned and destroyed by the relevant authorities.